Latest news with #ratiopharmUlm
USA Today
12-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bulls rookie Noa Essengue explains why he'll wear No. 24 in the NBA
After wearing No. 12 for much of his basketball career, rookie Noa Essengue will have a new jersey number when he debuts next season with the Chicago Bulls. Essengue donned No. 12 while playing with ratiopharm Ulm last season in the German League. He also had that number while representing France on the international level, most recently in the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket Championship. With veteran Zach Collins currently occupying No. 12, Essengue opted to double that number and wear No. 24 with the Bulls. He is also paying homage to Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, who wore it over the second half of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Essengue was the 12th pick after averaging 10.7 points, five rebounds and 1.2 assists on 52.1% shooting from the field in 60 games last season. He has registered seven 20-point games, including a 22-point, 14-rebound performance on June 1. The Frenchman debuted with the Bulls in the NBA Summer League, averaging 12.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals on 41.9% shooting from the field in three appearances. He finished off his stay with a 21-point performance on July 14. Essengue was highly touted as a prospect this year because of his size, rebounding and defensive versatility. The team is excited about his addition and is eager to watch him take the court next season. Note: Throughout August, Rookie Wire is looking at every first-round pick and why each player selected their respective jersey number as they make the jump to the NBA. Previous: Cooper Flagg | Dylan Harper | VJ Edgecombe | Kon Knueppel | Ace Bailey | Tre Johnson | Jeremiah Fears | Egor Dёmin | Collin Murray-Boyles | Khaman Maluach | Cedric Coward
USA Today
05-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
No. 12 overall pick Noa Essengue inks rookie contract with the Bulls
French forward Noa Essengue, the 12th overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, signed his rookie contract with the Chicago Bulls on Friday, the team announced. Essengue averaged 10.7 points, five rebounds and 1.2 assists on 52.1% shooting from the field in 60 games across all league competitions with ratiopharm Ulm in the German League. He has registered seven 20-point games, including a 22-point, 14-rebound performance on June 1. He will make $5,429,520 next season, according to Spotrac. The 18-year-old was highly touted as a prospect this year because of his size, rebounding and defensive versatility. He looked increasingly comfortable on offense and turned in several noteworthy performances in the second half of the season. Essengue helped ratiopharm Ulm reach the best-of-five championship series against Bayern Munich. He left the team after Game 3 in the finals to travel to the United States and attend the draft from the green room at the Barclays Center. The 18-year-old is expected to suit up with the Bulls for at least five games in the NBA Summer League, beginning on July 11 against the Toronto Raptors (8 p.m. EDT, ESPN).
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ben Saraf: Nets sign 26th overall pick to rookie-scale contract
Israeli guard Ben Saraf, the 26th pick in the 2025 NBA draft, signed his rookie-scale contract with the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, the team announced. Saraf averaged 12 points, 4.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals on 44.4%% shooting from the field in 60 games last season with ratiopharm Ulm in the German League. He registered six 20-point games, including a 20-point, four-assist performance on June 21. Advertisement He will make $2,884,560 next season, according to Spotrac. The 6-foot-7 guard missed the draft last week after helping ratiopharm Ulm reach the best-of-five championship series against Bayern Munich. With the series tied at two games apiece, they fell just short after losing 81-77 in Game 5 on June 26. Before joining ratiopharm Ulm, Saraf was the 2024 Israeli League Premier Rising Star after emerging as the best young player with Elitzur Kiryat Ata. He was also the Israeli National League Rising Star and Sixth Man of the Year with Elitzur Netanya in 2023. The 19-year-old is highly touted as a prospect because of his scoring ability, playmaking and court vision. He dazzles with his passing and innate ability to make pinpoint, cross-court passes off drives and in pick-and-roll situations. Advertisement Saraf will likely suit up with the Nets for at least five games in the NBA Summer League, beginning on July 10 against the Oklahoma City Thunder (5:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN2). This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Ben Saraf: Nets sign 26th overall pick to rookie-scale contract
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Ben Saraf: Nets sign 26th overall pick to rookie-scale contract
Israeli guard Ben Saraf, the 26th pick in the 2025 NBA draft, signed his rookie-scale contract with the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, the team announced. Saraf averaged 12 points, 4.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals on 44.4%% shooting from the field in 60 games last season with ratiopharm Ulm in the German League. He registered six 20-point games, including a 20-point, four-assist performance on June 21. He will make $2,884,560 next season, according to Spotrac. The 6-foot-7 guard missed the draft last week after helping ratiopharm Ulm reach the best-of-five championship series against Bayern Munich. With the series tied at two games apiece, they fell just short after losing 81-77 in Game 5 on June 26. Before joining ratiopharm Ulm, Saraf was the 2024 Israeli League Premier Rising Star after emerging as the best young player with Elitzur Kiryat Ata. He was also the Israeli National League Rising Star and Sixth Man of the Year with Elitzur Netanya in 2023. The 19-year-old is highly touted as a prospect because of his scoring ability, playmaking and court vision. He dazzles with his passing and innate ability to make pinpoint, cross-court passes off drives and in pick-and-roll situations. Saraf will likely suit up with the Nets for at least five games in the NBA Summer League, beginning on July 10 against the Oklahoma City Thunder (5:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN2).
USA Today
25-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Frenchman Noa Essengue explains decision to leave Ulm during BBL Finals
Projected lottery pick Noa Essengue arrived in the United States this week after briefly playing with ratiopharm Ulm in the German League Finals against Bayern Munich. Essengue appeared in the first three games of the championship round, helping ratiopharm Ulm build a 2-1 best-of-five series lead. He departed the team after Game 3 over the weekend and will be on hand for the first round of the 2025 NBA draft in Brooklyn, New York. The 6-foot-11 Frenchman missed most of the predraft process because of his obligations in Germany. He received permission to miss the remainder of his team's postseason run to attend the draft in the green room at the Barclays Center. "That is always a hard choice," Essengue said on Tuesday. "In one case, you can play the playoff final, but the draft is really something special in the life of a basketball player. That is maybe going to be the best day of my life. That was a long conversation with my coach, staff and all of that. I would say that is my choice. I trust my teammates. I know they can do the job." Essengue averaged 10.7 points, five rebounds and 1.2 assists on 52.1% shooting from the field in 60 games across all league competitions. He has registered seven 20-point games, including a 22-point, 14-rebound performance on June 1. The 18-year-old is highly touted as a prospect this year, because of his size, rebounding and defensive versatility. He looked increasingly comfortable on offense and turned in several noteworthy performances to help his team to the finals. Essengue also boasts a strong interior game and dazzled in the open court in fastbreak situations after creating turnovers with his length and instincts on defense. He brings versatility and high-level experience with him to the NBA and should be a high pick, as a result. The 2025 NBA draft will feature a two-night format for the second consecutive year, with the first round scheduled for Wednesday and the second round for Thursday.
